Reached this morning, former candidate Paul Rosenfeld said that he dropped out because he realized that having a family, job and being a ward committeeman was too much work.

“What came clear was, I have four young kids. I run my own business and I’m busy with Grow 47. I’ve been absolutely killing myself for the last four months. I couldn’t do it all,” said Rosenfeld. Grow 47 is Ald. Ameya Pawar’s neighborhood education initiative, which Rosenfeld chairs.

Rosenfeld, a lobbyist in Springfield, was also once a staffer for Ald. Dick Mell (33rd) and a top fundraiser for former-Gov. Rod Blagojevich. Asked if he thought Mayor Emanuel wanted him out of the race because he was a Mell operative, Rosenfeld said, “Dick did not raise a finger on this thing. You can quote me on that.”

Rosenfeld says he has raised $70,000, not including his own contributions, for the race, and he intends to begin returning all the money starting today.

“These people invested in a campaign, in good conscience I could never keep it,” said Rosenfeld. But, Rosenfeld says he does not rule out running for committeeman again in the future.

Former 47th Ward Ald. Gene Schulter, the incumbent Committeeman and now former candidate, leaves politics with over $823,000 in his campaign accounts, as of the last official reports from July 1. Schulter, in office since the 1970′s, is grandfathered on campaign finance reforms so he will be allowed to keep a significant portion of his campaign funds for personal use, but that still means some hundreds of thousands of dollars will go uncommitted. With his big campaign account balance, it is guaranteed that Schulter will be a significant player in local politics for years to come.

Schulter did not respond to requests for comment by publication.

Peter Coffey, who is out of state visiting family this morning, was unavailable for comment by publication.

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Not happy about this. Gene Schulter actually cares about the people in the 47th Ward and would have continued to fight for the residents of Lincoln Square (who are being forgotten by the new alderman) as well as the more “popular” St. Ben’s area and Lakeview areas of the ward. This is nothing against Peter Coffey – he has always been a gentleman when we’ve met at DePaul. This is typical Chicago politics in action. Shame on you, Rahm! As a lifelong resident of the 47th ward, I have a vested interest in its future, which cannot be said of the temporary residents who are strengthening their own political bases and pursuing their own agendas (such as aldermen with no permanent ties to their wards.) Hopefully, Gene can still provide a positive impact for the ward and Lincoln Square.

http://twitter.com/joelake joelake

As a one-year resident of the 47th Ward, I highly resent Mr. Mackdoodle’s reference to ‘temporary residents…’ Believe me, I have had plenty of experience in such matters.

I moved from the 32nd Ward where I heard the same talk when I moved to Bucktown in 1998.

I would also disagree with this. I’ve been a 5 year resident of the neighborhood – not a lifer, but not a temp either and in my time I’ve seen nothing out of Schulter but typical Chicago style grandstanding and only helping out those who are willing to kow tow to his way of doing things. The less involved he is with this ward, the better.

It’s funny you call out Rahm for typical Chicago politics when Schulter is basically the poster boy for that type of thing. I certainly don’t miss every sign in the neighborhood emblazoned with his name on it. What a waste of taxpayer money that was.

Anonymous

Why is Greater Rockwell getting lopped off the 47th ?

I want heads to roll !

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